The Thirty-Fifth Annual Diamante Awards Featuring Special Guest Margarita De Leon.
The Diamante Awards, hosted by the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio and including four local colleges and universities, raises funds to support Latino youth through scholarships and recognize individuals in the Latino community for their achievements and leadership.
Oct. 10 marked the 35th annual collaboration between the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, and Owens Community College.
“The hope is the same today as it was then,” said Diamante Awards Founder Margarita De Leon, “to celebrate Latinos who are making contributions in Northwest Ohio and to lift them up as examples in our community.”
De Leon emphasized the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio’s goal to “recapture” and “reinstate” those scholarships currently suspended by the university in response to the federal overturning of affirmative action last summer, in hopes to award them to future deserving recipients.
She highlighted the University of Toledo as “near and dear to her heart,” having served on past committees and worked as an advisor. In light of the scholarship suspension, De Leon expressed her hope that the University of Toledo would “build and expand” its “wonderful outreach and programs for Latino students,” rather than regress.
This year, the event was held at the Franciscan Center on Lourdes University’s campus and hosted by the charismatic UToledo alum Josh Flores.
University of Toledo Interim President Matt Schroeder spoke about witnessing firsthand the positive impact the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio has had in supporting Latinos in the
community and in their educational journeys.
Schroeder celebrated Aleiah Jones, director of the office of multicultural student success, for her contributions, not only in helping to organize the ceremony on behalf of UToledo, but also for her leadership in the Primo Youth Summit and her mentoring work through the university.
This year, Alina Edmunds won the award for Latino Youth Leadership, CaSandra Martinez-Salas won for Latino Adult leadership, Mely Arribas-Douglas won for Latino Adult
Professional, Mely Arribas-Douglas won for Friend of the Latino Community, and El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico won for Latino Community Agency.
While the date has not been selected for next year’s 36th ceremony, it was announced that the awards will be held at the University of Toledo.
